Across The Nation

Wind buffets hot-air balloons; six killed, 11 hurt in Colorado

ASPEN, Colo. - Six people were killed and 11 others injured - one seriously - yesterday in two separate hot-air balloon accidents that occurred within five minutes of each other and about 1 mile apart.

Winds unexpectedly hit the two sightseeing balloons, forcing one into a high-tension power line that severed the basket from the balloon. The basket dropped about 100 feet, killing all six aboard. The balloon was operated by Aspen Balloon Adventures.

Five minutes after that 8 a.m. accident, the second balloon suddenly lost altitude, hit a fence and tipped over. The pilot and her 10 passengers were injured, one of them seriously.

"It was a freak storm," said Fred Gorrell, owner of Unicorn Balloon Co., which operated the other balloon.

Killed were Carol Pendergast, 55, of Nashville, Tenn.; Lisa Johnson, 31, of Harrogate, Tenn.; Sharon Pendergast Batey, 33, of LaVergne, Tenn.; and Charles "Skip" Dodson, 58, of Fort Collins, Colo. Identities of two Colorado residents on the balloon - the pilot and a passenger - were not released.